Insulating device.



- PATENTED NOV. 19, 1907.

G. E. WOOD. INSULATING DEVICE.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. 28, 1905.

- ammo/Mm Geo/gel? 14/00:!

GEORGE E. WOOD, OF PLANTSVILLE, CONNECTICUT.

INSULATING DEVICE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Nov. 19, 1907.

Application filed February 28, 1905 Serial No. 247.802.

T cell whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, GEORGE E. WOOD, a citizen of the United States, residing at Plantsville, county of Hartford, State of Connecticut, have invented certain new and useful Im rovements in Insulating Devices, of Which tlie following is a full, clear, and exact description.

My invention relates to improvements in insulating, devices for hand tools such as screw drivers, drills, and the like.

The object of the invention is to provide a new article of manufacture which is capable of being bodily applied to or removed from a hand tool to prevent the user from accidentally engaging a metallic part of the tool in the ordinary use of the same.

The invention has particular utility as applied to hand tools for electricians. In addition to protecting the user, it also furnishes a convenient and useful gripping surface, particularly where both hands are employe upon the instrument.

In the drawings Figure 1 is a side elevation of my invention as applied to a screw driver. Fig. 2 is a sectional view thereof, the screw driver being shown in elevation.

A is the screw driver shank.

B is the socket portion of the handle.

C is the handle proper.

' The insulating device covers the socket B as well as the portion of the shank A. The body portion D of the insulating device covers the socket, while the tubular extension E covers said shank. The body D and the extension E are united at F so as to form an integral Whole. Within the connection F is preferably formed an annular recess or groove arranged to receive the flange B of the socket when the parts are assembled. The handle C is preferably cut back slightly as at C to permit the body part D of the protecting device to extend back of the socket and lie flush with the surface of the handle. By this arrangement, it is practically impossible for the edge of the body D to be up turned sufliciently to expose the metal ic socket B. The length of the part E is preferably suflicient to cover so much of the shank A as there is any danger of handling in the ordinary use of the instrument.

The protecting device is formed of elastic and non-conducting material, for example, rubber. By the foregoing arrangement, the articles may be applied bodily to or removed bodily from hand tools of the aforesaid character, the side walls of the protecting device yielding sufliciently to permit said application or removal. Not only does this device protect the user in case the instrument is to be employed in electrical work, but it also furnishes a superior gripping surface, particularly where two hands are required. The part C of the handle is preferably formed of wood or other non-conducting material, whereas the socket portion of the handle is ordinarily formed of metal.

What I claim is:

1. A hand tool comprising the combination of a handle having an exposed grip portion of non-conducting material, a metal shank carried by the handle, a metal socket surrounding a portion of the handle adjacent the shank, and having an annular flange or projection and a rubber insulating member surrounding the socket and parts of the shank and handle, and having an annular recess or groove to receive the annular flange or projection of the socket, substantially as described and for the purpose specified.

2. A hand tool, comprising the combination of a handle having an exposed grip portion of non-conducting material, a metal shank carried by the handle, a metal socket surrounding a portion of the handle adjacent the shank and having an annular flange or projection, a rubber insulating member surrounding the socket and parts of the shank and handle, an annular recess or groove within the rubber insulating member to receive the annular flange or projection of the socket, the handle proper being cut back or recessed adjacent to the rear edge of the socket to permit the surface of the insulating member to lie flush with the adjacent exposed surface of the grip when the parts are assembled.

'GEORGE E; WVOOD.

Witnesses:

h IAROUS H. I-IoLcoMB, CHARLEs DEEBLE. 

